Sewage Sludge Drying Hall with Solar Greenhouse Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for drying sewage sludge are complex and expensive, making them unsuitable for small communities, and do not efficiently address odor formation and sanitization, while also requiring temporary storage systems and energy-intensive processes.
Innovation Solution
A method involving mechanical dewatering of sewage sludge to 10-30% dry matter content, followed by simultaneous storage and drying in a greenhouse-like hall using solar radiation, where dewatered sludge is mixed with pre-dried sludge, allowing continuous processing without intermediate storage, odor control through microorganism stabilization, and energy-independent operation using solar radiation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by stationary object
If sewage sludge is dried using conventional methods in a building utilizing the greenhouse effect, then drying is achieved, but the process becomes complex and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines storage and drying functions into a single facility. The drying hall serves dual purposes: it stores mechanically dewatered sewage sludge and simultaneously dries it using solar radiation. This eliminates the need for separate storage silos and drying facilities, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining effective drying capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The drying hall is designed as a multi-functional structure that performs both storage and drying operations. The transparent building shell allows solar radiation to penetrate and dry the sludge while the same structure provides enclosed storage space. This universal design reduces the number of separate facilities needed, simplifying the overall system.
2Productivity
If sewage sludge is stored temporarily in silos before drying, then continuous supply to drying facility is ensured, but additional storage infrastructure and costs are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the storage function with the drying function by using the drying hall itself as the storage facility. Mechanically dewatered sludge is applied directly to the floor of the drying hall where it is stored and dried simultaneously, eliminating the need for separate storage silos while ensuring continuous processing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the storage function from the conventional separate storage-drying system and integrates it into the drying hall. By removing the need for external storage infrastructure, the system becomes simpler while maintaining the ability to handle continuous sludge supply.
3Productivity
If sewage sludge is dried in successive layers with mixing, then drying efficiency is improved, but the process requires automatic ventilation and control systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic manual mixing of the sludge layers instead of continuous automatic mixing systems. The sludge is spread in successive layers and mixed periodically, allowing solar drying to proceed naturally while maintaining drying efficiency through simple periodic intervention rather than complex automated control.
Solution Approach 2:
The drying process utilizes natural solar radiation to dry the sludge without requiring automatic ventilation systems or complex control mechanisms. The transparent building shell allows sunlight to penetrate and provide the drying energy, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating the need for automated energy input systems.
4Productivity
If mechanical dewatering is performed continuously, then sludge processing efficiency is improved, but intermediate storage facilities are still needed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the output of continuous mechanical dewatering directly with the drying hall floor. The dewatered sludge is applied continuously or in batches directly to the drying hall floor where it is mixed with previously dried material, eliminating the need for intermediate storage facilities while maintaining continuous dewatering efficiency.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method reduces costs by eliminating the need for temporary storage and energy dependence, efficiently dries sewage sludge to a high dry content, sanitizes the sludge, and prevents odor formation, making it suitable for small communities with low operational expenses.
Implementation Method 1
drying of the sewage sludge using solar radiation radiating into the drying hall
Implementation Method 2
drying of the sewage sludge using solar radiation radiating into the drying hall
Implementation Method 3
utilizing the greenhouse effect
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for the simultaneous storage and drying of sewage sludge, comprising the following steps: a) mechanically dewatering the sewage sludge down to a dry substance concentration of 10 to 35 percent; b) applying the dewatered sewage sludge to a floor of a greenhouse-type drying hall in which a transparent building envelope forms the roof over the floor; c) drying the sewage sludge using solar radiation that radiates into the drying hall; d) mechanically dewatering additional sewage sludge down to a dry substance concentration of 10 to 35 percent; e) introducing the dewatered additional sewage sludge into the drying hall and mixing the additional sewage sludge with the sewage sludge already in the drying hall; f) drying said mixture using solar radiation that radiates into the drying hall; and g) evacuating the mixture from the drying hall or repeating steps d) to f), wherein in step e), the additional sewage sludge is mixed with the mixture in the drying hall rather than with the sewage sludge in the drying hall.